Play dater



Jan. 30, 1945.

w. P. SHERAM 2,368,167

PLAY DATER Filed Feb. 2, v1945 2 Sheets-Sheet l xaji wr ATTORNEYS Jan.30, 1945. w. P, SHERAM 2,368,167

PLAY DATER Filed Feb. 2, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 A'ITDRNEYS Patented Jan.30, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PLAY DATER Wade P. Sheram,Tennille, Ga.

Application February 2, 1943, Serial No. 474,462

2 Claims.

My invention relates to motion pictures, particularly prevues, and hasamong its objects and advantages the provision of an improved play daterwherein the play dates for the showing of future motion pictures arevisually displayed during showing of the prevue so that the dates may befirmly fixed in the public mind. My invention includes a rotary drum towhich the play dates are attached and illuminated in such manner as torender the dates readily visible, with the construction such that thedrum may be rotated from position to position for associating the playdates with the respective prevues.

In the accompanyin drawings:

Figure 1 is a face view of the invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional view along the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional view along the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 44 ofFigure 2.

Figure 5 is a top view partly in section, and

Figure 6 is a diagrammatic view of the electric circuit.

In the embodiment of the invention selected for illustration, I make useof a box H! of generally rectangular contour in cross section andprovided with a Window or opening l2 in its front wall M. This box isprovided with a cover I6 hingedly connected therewith at l8. Inside thebox I!) is mounted a date announcing drum 20.

In Figure 4, the end walls 22 of the box [0 are provided with openings24 for supporting a hollow shaft 26. A collar 28 is attached to theinner face of one of the walls 22, as at 30, for securing the shaft 26againstrotation. A set screw 32 is threaded through the collar 28 forend engagement with the shaft.

The drum comprises end walls 34 having bearings 36secured thereto andloosely supported on the shaft 26. Collars 38 are fixed to the shaft 26and engage the inner faces of the end walls 34 to restrain the drum fromrelative longitudinal movement on the shaft 26. A sprocket 40 is mountedloosely on the shaft 26 for connection with a chain 42 passing around asprocket 44 driven by a motor 46.

The sprocket 40 is fixed to a stop flange 48 which is welded to one ofthe bearings 36 to fixedly connect the drum 2!] with the sprocket 48.Four notches 50 are provided in the peripheral face of the disk 48,which notches are equally spaced circumferentially of the disk. An arm52 is pivotally mounted at 54 intermediate its ends on a bracket 56bolted at 58 to one of the end Walls 22.

A roller 50 is mounted on one end of the arm '52 and is of such diameteras to fit snugly in successive notches 58 for yieldingly latching thedrum 20 against rotation. A tension spring 62 is attached to the otherend of the arm 52 and is connected with an adjusting screw 64 threadedthrough a bracket 66 attached to the rearwall 68 of the housing [8.

Inside the drum 20 and fixedly secured to the shaft 26 is a reflector 18extending the full length of the drum in alignment with the opening l2.Bands 12 are fixed to the reflector l0 and are attached to the shaft 26for supporting the reflector. A series of lamps 14 is mounted on thereflector in alignment with the opening 12.

The drum 2!! is of generally octagonal contour in cross section with theend walls 34 cut away to provide flat faces 16. These fiat faces arespaced 98 degrees apart circumferentially of the end walls. Slightlycurved metal or opaque strips 18 are attached to the rounded faces ofthe end walls. These strips have their edge margins extending slightlyover the fiat faces 16 to provide lips 82 underneath which transparentdate strips 84 are inserted to lie against the fiat faces 76. Thenotches 50 are so arranged as to respectively yieldingly hold thesuccessive strips 84 in alignment with the opening 12.

In Figure l, the strip 84 is painted black on its outer face, as at 86,with areas on the strip unpainted, as at 88, in the form of dateannouncements. All the strips are formed in the same manner with theexception of the date information. The strips may be easily removed forsubstitution purposes. The unpainted areas are stippled with white painton the inside faces of the strips 84.

In Figure 6, the motor 46 is electrically connected with a line wireandwith a second wire 92 electrically connected with a contact 94 of aswitch 96. The second contact 98 of the switch 96 is electricallyconnected with the second line wire 180. Thus the motor may be startedby pressing the switch 96.

A wire I02 leads from the wire 92 and is electrically connected with acontact I04 of a mercury switch I86 fixed to the arm 52. The secondcontact I08 of the switch I66 is electrically connected with a wire H8electrically connected with the wire I00. A wire H2 is connected with acontact H4 of a switch I Hi, this switch being electrically connectedwith the wire H0. All the lamps 14 are electrically connected with thewire H2. The second lamp wire H8 is electrically connected with the wire90 and leads to a pilot lamp I20 electrically connected with the wire92.

In operation, the box In is placed behind a sound screen at anydesirable position, but is more effective a few inches above the bottomborder of the screen. When prevues are being shown,

the drum 20 may be rotated to bring the an-' nouncement strips 84 intosuccessive registration with the opening I! in accordance with theparticular prevues being shown.

To start the motor 46, the switch 96 is closed. Upon slight rotation ofthe motor, the drum 20 is rotated for turning the stop flange 48 to movethe roller 60 out of its retaining notch 50. This will cause the arm 52to pivot to close the mercury switch I05, after which the motor willcontinue rotating until the next strip 84 is brought into registrationwith the opening [2. A this time, the roller 80 will drop into the nextnotch 50 to break the circuit through the motor 46. The switch H6 isthen closed to illuminate the lamps 14, Upon termination of the firstprevue showing, the foregoing cycle may be repeated.

The strips 84 are illuminated in such manner as to render the dateannouncements readily visible. Thus the future dates of pictures to beshown are continuously emphasized during showing of the prevue.

The number of openingsin the drum 20 for the date strips will have to beadapted to each individual theatre as some theatres run a picture longerthan others. In other words, the changes of prevues are not alikeuniversally. The flange 48 will have to correspond with the dateopenings in the .drum.

Without further elaboration, the foregoing will so fully explain myinvention, that others may, by applying current knowledge, readily adaptthe same for use under various conditions of service.

I claim:

1. A play dater device comprising a housing having a window in one sidethereof, a horizontal shaft extending through the housing and fixed tothe end wall thereof, a hollow drum rotatably mounted on said shafthaving date faces at circumferentially spaced intervals, an elongatedrefiector of arcuate cross section fixed to the shaft within thehousing, said reflector extending horizontally the full length of thehousing with the medial portion of its convex face secured to the shaft,a plurality of lamp holding sockets fixed to the concave face of thereflector medially of its longitudinal edges, a bearing sleeve rotatablyfitted on the shaft and fixed to one end of the drum, and means havingoperative connection with said sleeve for periodically turning the drumto successively dispose the date faces in display relation with thelamps and thewindow.

2. A drive mechanism for a rotary shaft connected with the drum of aplay dating apparatus, comprising an electric motor having drivingconnection with the shaft, a flange fixed on said shaft havingcircumferentially spaced recesses in its periphery, a pivotallysupported arm having its outer end riding on the periphery of saidflange and engaging the recesses therein, means resiliently forcing. theouter end of the arm against the periphery of said flange, and a liquidcontact switch carried on the arm and electrically connected with themotor for controlling rotation of the drum.

WADE P. SHERAM.

